Lama Rigdzin Samdrub

Lama Rigdzin Samdrub

Lama Rigdzin Samdrub was born in Dungkar, Kurtoe in East Bhutan in 1958 and started his religious training at the age of eight at Lhuntse Dzong Monastery. At fifteen he went to study with his root lama, the foremost yogi of Bhutan, Lama Sonam Zangpo (his uncle from his mother`s side) in Dewa Thang and at Long Tsog, near Thimpu. Lama Sonam Zangpo transmitted to him the complete Nyingma tantras and trained him in the Six Yogas of Naropa. Lama Rigdzin also received extensive religious training, initiations and transmissions from the foremost masters of the Drugpa Kagyu and the Nyingma tradition such as the late H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche and the 16th Karmapa. In 1982 Lama Sonam Zangpo ordained him as Lama in charge of the ancient Padma Lingpa temple Urgyen Ling in Tang Rung, Kurtoe.

After Lama Sonam Zangpo´s death in 1984 Lama Rigdzin entered into two three year retreats and from 1991 – 1996 he followed Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche (the grandson of Lama Sonam Zangpo) to Bir, India, to help build his monastery and to teach the students.
In 1995 he was assigned by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche as lama in charge of Lama Sonam Zangpo´s monastery Zer Shong in Kurtoe and he returned to Bhutan, where he continued his religious training and services, mainly receiving further Nyingthig Dzogchen and Tsalung teachings under Lama Serpo Rigdzin Palden, in the lineage of Amzon Drugpa.

In 2005 Dongsar Khyentse Rinpoche requested Lama Rigdzin Samdrub to serve at Khadro Ling as lama in charge of the consecration activities for the Guru Rinpoche temple, a task that he accomplished in a style that inspired everyone. The sangha now awaits his return and his teachings.